The consideration of a QSL card is the ultimate thank you for the QSO. But now we find many issues that could very well slow the rate at which amateur radio operators exchange QSL cards.

One of the foremost issues is postage, both domestic and foreign. Domestic postage costs puts a damper on U.S. amateurs in several areas:

1) U.S. to U.S. QSLs

2) QSLs to stateside bureaus

3) QSLs sent and returned for verification

4) U.S. special event QSLs

5) Cost of IRCs for foreign use

While QSLing foreign stations has always had a higher cost there seems to be a trend in another direction. This trend could lead someone to wonder whether some (not all) foreign stations might be taking advantage of the devalued USD to line their own pockets a bit. There are even postings on QRZ.com where DX stations are complaining about not receiving enough money for the return postage. Some even going as far as ridiculing the decades old tradition of enclosing USD in QSLs sent. One particularly prickly station op says he gives them to his kids to play with:

- if you send me a small amount of $US it is given to kids to play with

DX stations might just find it a little harder to earn the coveted WAS/5BWAS awards unless they become a little less tight-fisted.

QSL Alternatives

There are several ways to cut your costs when QSLing stations both foreign and domestic. Some are attractive to some ops and some are not. Here are some of the more popular methods:

1) The good old bureau. Sure it is slower but very cost efficient. A big drawback is that you won't find a bureau in all foreign countries. The ARRL has a great resource for countries that do not have bureaus.

ARRL QSL BUREAU NOTES

2) The eQSL system. You will find folks sending free eQSLs directly from their logging programs within minutes of their QSO with you. The major drawback to eQSL is they aren't accepted for many major awards. The exception being CQ Magazine and other smaller groups. A full list of the organizations that accept eQSLs is available at the following link:

eQSLs and Awards

3) The ARRL LoTW system. This is one of the more attractive alternatives for QSL exchanges. It is not free by no means but it is likely that is a great deal cheaper that direct QSLs. And faster than both direct and bureau QSL card exchanges. Some hams have a hard time with the initial setup of LoTW but there are a great many eager ops out there willing to "elmer" you on LoTW.

4) QSL managers, while this is not an alternative for U.S. to U.S. stations it does work very well when some remote stations have poor mail systems. Or possibly they have no bureau in their country.

5) GlobalQSL.com is a relatively unique service in that you simply upload your ADIF formatted log to them. Once they receive your log they print and distribute the QSL cards. This service is not free either but is a very affordable way of exchanging QSL cards for those that enjoy the exchange of paper QSL cards.

Resources:

A good resource on postage rates.

ARRL page on countries without bureaus.

ARRL Logbook of the world (LoTW).

eQSL web site.

All about GlobalQSL.com.